Garlic Lentil Soup

This garlic lentil soup is a tasty, budget-friendly meal that can be made on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker. It’s loaded with flavor and it’s a great weeknight dinner!

I love cooking with lentils. They’re cheap, easy, and full of plant-based protein. They’re super filling so they make this soup nice and hearty. It’s great for a chilly evening and the leftovers reheat well so it can be a great option for meal prep!

If you don’t cook with lentils often, let me share why I love and how to make the most of them!

Benefits of Eating Lentils

Lentils contain a whopping 9 grams of protein per 1⁄2-cup serving. A bowl of lentil soup like this one can easily provide more than 20 grams of protein. Plus, they’re easy on the budget. In fact, they’re one of the cheapest protein sources you’ll find at the grocery store!

Where to buy lentils

You can find dried lentils at most grocery stores. They’re often sold by the dried beans and rice, but you can also find them in bulk bins. They tend to be a bit cheaper in the bulk bins, but even the pre-bagged lentils are very affordable.

Different types of lentils

There are quite a few types of lentils and they’re not necessarily interchangeable.

Red lentils become very soft and breakdown when cooked. These can be great for pureed soups because they can thicken the broth.

French lentils are sometimes called lentils de puy. These small, black lentils keep their shape really well and they’re great tossed on salads or in wraps. These are great for meal prepping because they won’t get mushy after being cooked.

Brown or Green lentils are very similar, and that’s the type of lentil we’ll use for this soup. They maintain their shape when cooked, but get soft with just enough “bite”.

Buying Fresh Lentils

Be sure your lentils aren’t too old. Although lentils don’t “go bad” like a lot of other ingredients, if your lentils are old they won’t soften properly. They should last 2 years, but sometimes the lentils you buy at the grocery store have already been sitting on the shelf for a few months. I try to get them in the bulk bins because they tend to be fresher!

Did you make this recipe?

This soup is really filling since it’s loaded with protein and fiber. I like serving this with a piece of sourdough bread or a side salad, to make it into a full meal. You definitely won’t be hungry after a bowl of this soup!